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Removal of Cuban Blockage: Envoy Appeals to Nigeria, Others to Pile Pressure on US
Removal of Cuban Blockage: Envoy Appeals to Nigeria, Others to Pile Pressure on US
By: Michael Mike
Cuba has called on Nigeria and other countries of the world to pile pressure on the United States of America(US) to end the 64-year-old blockade and economic sanctions on her.
The Ambassador of Cuba to Nigeria, Miriam Morales Palmero made the call during a press conference in Abuja, ahead of the vote against the US blockade scheduled to take place at the United Nations General Assembly on October 29, 2024.
The envoy who applauded Nigeria for always standing by Cuba, said the country’s friendship and alliance is needed at the time more than ever, noting that with the support of Nigeria and other African countries, Europe, Latin America, Asia and Middle East, her country will be free from the blockade.
While decrying the injustice of the prolonged blockade policy put in place in 1960 by the US on Cuba, Palmero said it has made negative impacts in various sectors of the Cuban political, social and economic life, calling for immediate lifting of the blockade against her country.
She noted that the US government started the blockade on March 14, 1958, when it banned weapons sale to Cuba via an arms embargo and later extended to a bigger ban on all exports to Cuba, food and medicine excluded.
She swid: “In 1962, during the Cuban Missile Crisis between the US and the Soviet Union, Cuba held nuclear weapons on behalf of the Soviet Union leading to a full- scale blockade on the Cuban island. The actions of the US have led to the UN having annual resolutions to dispel the blockage since 1992, this year’s resolution being on the 29th of October.”
The Ambassador covered various economic and social effects of the blockade on Cuba which include that the blockage prevents the US from trading with Cuba, greatly limiting Cuba’s access to goods, services and technology such as food, medical aid and the country’s ability to generate revenue.
She said: “With many countries being allies with the US, fearing the repercussions that might come with trading with Cuba, foreign investments and trades with Cuba are severely limited.
“Although Cuba has a wonderful health care system, this blockage limits the country’s access to medicine leading to the inability to properly care for its citizens in times of health crises,” she said.
Palmero said that Cuba has lost billions of dollars in various sectors due to the blockade, adding that regional responses from Latin America countries, the Caribbean community and the European Union have been expressly on the side of Cuba, all calling for the end of the embargo.
She noted that her country has survived these years of blockade because of the courage and resilience of its people and the determination of successive leaders of the country from Fidel Castro to Raul Castro and to the current President Miguel Diaz- Canel.
She said “Countries like China and Russia still show their willingness to invest in Cuba even though they receive backlash from the US. Many other countries have proclaimed a strong diplomatic relationship with Cuba, Nigeria included and the number of these countries is over 180.
“Moreover, various international NGOs have protested against the blockage stating that it has negative humanitarian impacts.”
She pointed out that Cuba is making spirited efforts to counteract the effects of the blockade while it struggles to form strong alliances globally, adding that it still sought to establish diplomatic relationships with China, Russia, Nigeria and other European countries.
She said “the government has focused on exporting medical supplies, biotechnology etc to these various countries.
“To fight against the food shortages caused by the blockage, Cuba has focused on organic farming and sustainable practices to ensure maximum efficiency and food security leasing to the country not having to depend entirely on other countries and organizations for food.
“Furthermore, Cuba actively promotes its culture with the help of globalization through: music, arts and even food leading to a strong cultural exchange enhancing its global image.”
She noted that Cuba has always been willing to negotiate with the US on how to end the blockade but insisted that her country will not allow any form of dictation from the US.
Removal of Cuban Blockage: Envoy Appeals to Nigeria, Others to Pile Pressure on US
FCT police arrest three wanted kidnappers linked to killings, mass abductions
By: Zagazola Makama
The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has arrested three most-wanted bandits and kidnappers operating across Abuja and neighbouring parts of Kaduna State.
According to a police sources, the arrests were carried out on June 29 between 5:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., by operatives of the Scorpion Squad led by ACP Victor O. Godfrey, following actionable and digital reconstructive intelligence.
The sources told Zagazola Makama that the suspects were identified as: Abdulkadir Abubakar, a native of Mpape, FCT, Mohammed Tasiu Sani, of Rigina, Kaduna State, Suleiman Jibrin, 27, of Sabon-Gayan, Kaduna State.
The three suspects, all Fulani by tribe, have been on the command’s most-wanted list for
their roles in multiple kidnapping and banditry operations, particularly in Jere, Kajuru, the FCT and its environs.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed to abducting victims and moving them to detention camps in Kachia and Rigina forests in Kaduna State. Some victims, they admitted, were held for months, while others were killed at will.
The sources revealed that one of the suspects, Abdulkadir Abubakar, provided disturbing details of internal executions within the gang, in which some members were killed by their own leaders over mistrust and betrayal.
An operational motorcycle, popularly referred to by locals as the “Boko Haram Motorcycle,” was recovered during the raid. The suspects are currently assisting operatives in ongoing efforts to recover arms and ammunition, and to track down other gang members still at large.
FCT police arrest three wanted kidnappers linked to killings, mass abductions
Young farm labourer shot dead while fleeing Amotekun in Osun
By: Zagazola Makama
A 20-year-old farm labourer identified as Solomon (surname yet unknown) has been found dead with gunshot wounds after he was allegedly shot by a member of the Western Nigeria Security Network, also known as Amotekun, along the Ilesa/Iperindo Road in Osun State.
The incident, which occurred on June 29, followed the reported confrontation between a local security operative and a group of five farm labourers on their way to a farmland.
According to Temidayo Olowookere, the employer of the deceased, the labourers were accosted around 11:00 a.m. by an Amotekun operative, one Ajayi Ibukun, who accused them of extorting money from passersby. Two members of the group were apprehended, while the remaining three fled into the bush.
Olowookere said the detained workers were later released to him in the afternoon. However, later in the evening, when two of the three fleeing labourers returned, Solomon remained missing.
A search party was immediately organised. His body was discovered in the bush with gunshot wounds on his back, raising suspicions that he may have been shot during the initial confrontation.
His remains were evacuated to Wesley Guild Hospital, Ilesa, where he was confirmed dead and deposited at the morgue for autopsy.
Police say efforts are currently underway to trace and apprehend the security operative allegedly involved in the shooting, while the community continues to call for justice.
Young farm labourer shot dead while fleeing Amotekun in Osun
Mining site worker dies after rock collapse in Kabusa
By: Zagazola Makama
A mining site worker identified as Adam Bahago, also known as Peter, has died following a rock collapse at a site operated by Inhui Mining Company in the Kabusa area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The incident occurred on June 29 at about 3:20 p.m., while the deceased was carrying out routine work at the site. Bahago, a native of Kaduna State and a member of the Koro ethnic group, was reportedly struck by a large falling rock.
According to the site manager, Brown Ekelechi John, the victim sustained critical injuries during the collapse and was immediately rushed to Asokoro General Hospital for medical attention. He was, however, confirmed dead on arrival by medical personnel.
His remains have since been deposited at the hospital’s mortuary, and his family has been duly notified.
Preliminary findings indicate the incident may be linked to structural weaknesses in the rock face, prompting renewed calls for stricter adherence to safety protocols in artisanal and commercial mining operations across the FCT.
Mining site worker dies after rock collapse in Kabusa
FCT police arrest three wanted kidnappers linked to killings, mass abductions
Mentally unstable man kills 6-year-old boy in Niger
Young farm labourer shot dead while fleeing Amotekun in Osun
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